Diabetes Update 100: Discovery of Byetta

November 1, 2006

By David Mendosa

Horse CrossingTaken by Boulder photographer Peter P. Steele and used with his permission

Investing in Diabetes. The diabetes companies make a lot of money from us for their medications, meters, and much else. We can sometimes make money too, when we invest in some of these companies.

Too Many Meters? I wonder whether we have too many blood glucose meters to choose from. Even our doctors can’t keep track of all of our choices. And now almost all of our meters are made in Asia.

Back When Byetta Began. Only a few years ago Dr. John Eng discovered Byetta, which has already become one of the hottest drugs in diabetes history. Here is the story about how this discovery happened, based on my interviews with him in 2002 and again this month.

I’m Advocating This Meter. The Advocate Duo will measure both your blood glucose and your blood pressure. It’s tiny, attractive, and inexpensive. You need to know both your blood glucose and blood pressure levels in order to bring them under control, and this little device will tell you what you need to know.

Wireless Monitoring. The second generation of blood glucose meters isn’t what we have long assumed it would be. It is monitoring your glucose results and automatically transmitting them to your doctor’s office or others without using a computer. The devices that have begun to become available connect to your cell phone or land line.

Finding Health Facts. A new survey says that health websites have become the primary source of information about diabetes. That may well be true, but I challenge the validity of the survey.

Honey. Honey is too good just to eat. Some types of honey turn out to be great for treating the wounds and ulcers, which are a major threat to anybody with diabetes who has neuropathy.

Playing Doctor on the Web. A new website that purports to allow only doctors to post has incendiary statements about Byetta. But I show how anyone can post anything he or she wants on the site.

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